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Alzheimer’s disease

A brain disorder that usually starts in late middle age or old age and gets worse over time. Symptoms include loss of memory, confusion, difficulty thinking, and changes in language, behavior, and personality.

A degenerative disease of the brain characterized by the insidious onset of dementia. Impairment of memory, judgment, attention span, and problem solving skills are followed by severe apraxias and a global loss of cognitive abilities. The condition primarily occurs after age 60, and is marked pathologically by severe cortical atrophy and the triad of senile plaques; neurofibrillary tangles; and neuropil threads. from Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1049-57)

A disabling degenerative disease of the nervous system occurring in middle-aged or older persons and characterized by dementia and failure of memory for recent events, followed by total incapacitation and death. Types of the alzheimer syndrome are differentiated by the age of onset and genetic characteristics. The early onset form the mean age of the onset of symptoms between the ages of 40 and 60 years) and the late onset form the onset of symptoms after the age of 60 years). Three forms are identified: ad-1, ad-2, ad-3. Some of the clinical characteristics of the alzheimer syndrome are similar to those of the pick syndrome.

A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain leading to loss of cognitive function such as memory and language.

Alzheimer’s disease ad) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. Ad begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with ad may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment mci), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with mci will develop ad. In ad, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them. Ad usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease. No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time. nih: national institute on aging

Neurodegenerative disorder of the cns resulting in progressive loss of memory and intellectual functions; begins in the middle or later years; characterized by brain lesions such as neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques.

Alzheimer’s disease with early onset

Alzheimer’s disease with late onset

Other Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease, unspecified